Low-carbon concrete could cut data centre emissions before facilities go online

Data centres consume vast amounts of concrete: Meta's Sturgeon County project alone may need up to 1.5 million cubic metres, producing 218,000–263,000 tonnes of embodied CO2. Low-carbon concrete from firms like Cura Climate can cut cement emissions by 30–85%, but in Canada it remains niche due to cost and limited supply.

• Concrete accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions, mostly from cement production
• Meta's Sturgeon County project: up to 1.5 million m³ of concrete and 218,000–263,000 tonnes of CO2
• Cura Climate claims its process cuts cement emissions by 30–85%
• In Canada, cost and limited supply keep low-carbon concrete niche for hyperscalers